If you choose to outsource, you do the opposite: You hire freelancers or, more commonly, a video production agency, to manage video projects for you.
The video production process typically involves:
- Writing a video brief
- Storyboarding and script writing
- Location scouting
- Acquiring and maintaining equipment (cameras, lights, mics, and props)
- Pre-production setup
- Production (the actual filming)
- Post-production (editing)
- Animation, motion graphics, or special effects
Both in-house and outsourced production have their own unique advantages. Building your own video team, you have the opportunity to accrue talent in-house, draw from a deep knowledge of your brand, and keep and reuse the equipment you buy. In the long run, in-house is almost always cheaper on a per-video basis.
But outsourcing has big benefits too. You get a partner with a neutral, outside perspective, lots of experience, and a ready-made team. External video agencies have the benefit of a larger, often more well-rounded team that’s produced a lot of videos.
Pros of Producing Video In-House
- Deep understanding of your brand
- Knowledge of past brand videos
- Full creative control
- Own the equipment
- Easy to schedule reshoots
- Set own timelines
- Output is directly tied to team size
- Imperfections can create a sense of authenticity
Cons of Producing Video In-House
- Difficult to be unbiased
- Initial investment in equipment can be expensive (but not always)
- Salaried team members make downtime costly
- Scheduling team members as actors can be disruptive
- Team size limits production capabilities
- Your team members have to wear many hats
Pros of Outsourcing Video Production
- Unbiased, outside perspective
- Expert storytellers and writers
- Professional actors who look natural on camera
- Videos designed for conversions and optimized for search
- No need to source and buy equipment
- Experience working with a variety of clients
- No need to hire a full-time headcount
- No need to distract employees from their work
- Experience with special effects and animation
Cons of Outsourcing Video Production
- Time spent interviewing freelancers or agencies
- Less refined understanding of your brand
- Limited creative control
- Project timeline out of your hands
- More expensive on a per-video basis
- If using freelancers, managing them can take extra time
Both strategies have downsides as well. If you go with your own team, you’re taking a bit of a gamble that you can assemble the right people with the right skills to get things done on schedule. The last thing you want is a missed timeline plus added expenses for unforeseen revisions because the team hasn’t done it before.